B.J. McCabe, Teacher
Just finished one week teaching the advanced ninth grade English speakers at the high school. Debbie Alexander and I taught alternate days to 56 very bright kids.  I was helping them to improve their writing skills, and they were receptive to every activity I presented. 

One thing we did was compare Pasco Middle students and ShuRen students. We found many things that were similar and an equal number of things that were different.  I showed them a DVD that our school had made entitled “A Day at Pasco Middle.” The Chinese students noted our diverse student population. We also noted that our students have six classes a day and the Chinese have eight.  One thing that really surprised me was the lack of supervision. The Chinese students are in the classroom before school and during their one hour lunch break without an adult.  There never seems to be a problem. I told them I would be fired if I left a class unsupervised. 

I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to spend this time in China, and I expect many e-mails next year from these special kids.